Linear cable sheath cutter



United States Patent Inventor William W. Scott Raleigh, North CarolinaAppl. No. 778,162 Filed Nov. 22, 1968 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 AssigneeAerotron, lnc.

Raleigh, North Carolina LINEAR CABLE SHEATH CUTTER 3 Claims, 5 DrawingFigs.

U.S. Cl 83/431, 30/909, 81/951, 83/924 Int. Cl B26d 1/02, B26d 7/06Field of Search 83/431, 924; 30/909; 8 1/9.5, 9.51

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,176 12/1915 Hornor30/90.9X 2,391,721 12/1945 Lundeen 81/9.51X 2,649,654 8/1953 Carta30/909 3,175,430 3/1965 Smith et a1 81/951 Primary Examiner- Frank T.Yost Att0meyA. Yates Dowell and A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A linear cutter for the outer sheath of multiconductor cablehas a supporting member with a groove for receiving the cable, a bladeadjustably mounted on the support for limited protrusion into thegroove, and a roller mounted to engage the cable and hold it in thegroove in contact with the blade.

Patented Nov. 3, 1970 INVENTOR. WALL/AM W. 80077 Yd/ZM; If;

ATTORNEY;

LINEAR CABLE SHEATH currsn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multiconductorcables require severing of the outer jacket in order to permit access tothe wires therein for connection to other conductors. Various tools havebeen provided for slitting the sheath or jacket but these have generallyhad to be held in the hand while holding the cable with the other,thereby rendering difficult the accurate cutting of the sheath.Additionally, such cutting tools have not restricted the depth of cut,thereby permitting the possibility of cutting the insulation around aninner conductor. Additionally, previous cutting devices have generallyrequired a special blade which must be sharpened from time to time orreplaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a linearsheath cutter which can be mounted on a stationary support in order thatthe operator may use both hands for operating the cutter and holding thecable. The device is easy to use and permits an accurate depth ofcut ofthe desired length.

Briefly stated, the invention includes a stationary support on which acutter-holder is mounted, the holder having a longitudinal groove intowhich an adjustable movable blade protrudes a desired amount, and aroller mounted for engagement with the cable to hold it in the groove inengagement with the blade, whereby the cable may be pulled through thegroove and its sheath cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OETl-IE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of 'thedevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2, a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5, a fragmentary perspective of a cable with a longitudinal cut inits outer casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With further reference to thedrawings, the device includes a base or support member which is mountedby fastening elements 11 to a work table or the like 12. The base haslongitudinally extending groove 13 along the central portion of itsupper surface, the groove being of a diameter to receive amulticonductor electric cable C of the type whose outer jacket is to becut. Adjacent to one end of the base and centrally beneath the groove 13is a slot 14 which receives a knife blade 15 pivotally mounted by a pin16. The blade is preferably of conventional type such as that producedunder the trade name Exacto". A set screw 18 extends through the frontof the base and engages a dull side of the knife 15 in order to positionits cutting edge 20 the desired distance into the groove 13.

An arm 22 is mounted by a pivot 24 upon a portion of the base which isspaced from the blade, the arm having a handle 25 on an upright portion26 and carrying a roller 27 on an axle 28 which is mounted on the arm 22and is substantially transversely disposed to the groove 13. The rolleris preferably tapered, of reduced diameter at its central portion, forfuller engagement with a cable.

In the operation of the device, after the operator has set the blade toenter the groove the proper amount, the operator grasps the cable C andlays the portion to be severed in the groove 13. With his other hand theoperator depresses the handle 25 to apply pressure by the roller 27 ontothe cable lying in the groove 13. With the parts thus positioned theoperator then draws the cable outwardly, thereby causing the knife toproduce a linear cut in its jacket, the length of such cut beingdeterminable by the operator,

Iclaim:

1. A linear cable sheath cutter comprising stationary support means,said support means having longitudinal groove means, cutter means, meansmounting the cutter means on the support means with a portion extendinginto the groove means, and movable means mounted on the support meansfor engaging a cable lying in the groove means and applying pressurethereon to hold the cable against the projecting portion of the cuttermeans, said pressure applying means comprising an arm pivotally mountedon the support means, and a roller mounted on the arm and extendinggenerally transversely of said groove means.

2. The invention of claim 1, said arm mounted on one side of saidsupport means, said roller extending laterally from said arm across saidsupport means.

3. The invention of claim 1, said roller being of reduced diameter atits portion which overlies the groove means.

